Places available (subject to change)

About the course

This course is designed to develop your knowledge of how language works, in particular the English language, enabling you to describe and analyse English and other languages with accuracy and insight.

You’ll gain a solid understanding of phonetics and phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, and explore how that knowledge can be applied to the practical analysis of spoken and written, literary and non-literary texts.

We place particular emphasis on analysing language in real-world contexts. Modules reflect staff expertise, which means you have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research in your area of interest.

We have a vibrant research community of national and international students, who often collaborate on projects and present their work within the supportive environment of our annual postgraduate conference. We hold a regular research seminar programme, with presentations by staff, students and visiting guest speakers, and organise and host conferences reflecting our own research interests.

Our staff have links with scholars at many top-ranking universities worldwide, from the United States of America to the Far East. Members of staff are on the committees of significant professional organisations (such as PALA – the Poetics and Linguistics Association - and edit major journals such as the internationally reputed peer-reviewed academic journal East Asian Pragmatics and the leading stylistics journal, Language and Literature.

Please note: the inclusion of 'Applied' in the course title does not imply that our course has a pedagogical element. If you are interested in teacher training courses, then please visit the University's School of Education and Professional Development.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

An Honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject.

Other relevant qualifications and/or experience may be considered.

For applicants whose first language or language of instruction is not English you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 7.0 overall with no element lower than 6.5, will be considered acceptable, or equivalent.

Postgraduate Study Fair

Our award-winning academic staff will be on hand to chat about all our postgraduate study and research options, flexible teaching and how postgraduate study can help you to advance your career or prepare for a career change.

Course Detail

Descriptive Linguistics

This module aims to lay the theoretical and descriptive foundation that will form the basis of the other English Language and Applied Linguistics Master's modules. It aims to enable you to access and use different models of description of the English language, and to understand the theories underlying those models.

Dissertation in English Language and Applied Linguistics

The module aims to guide you through the process of project-planning, including general research skills background reading, research and writing up. You will be guided in your choice of a project which interests you and allocated a supervisor to oversee your work as you bring the project to fruition.

Phonetics

This module aims to provide an introduction to phonetics. We will focus on articulatory, impressionistic and acoustic aspects of phonetics. The module will begin with an introduction to phonetic theory and transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet, and then followed by an introduction to a new piece of software to conduct acoustic analysis of speech.

Analysing Interaction

This module involves advanced study of the fundamental features of interaction, and exploration of a method for conducting detailed analysis of talk within and across cultures. It covers a range of different kinds of communication (from ordinary talk to formal news interviews) and explores the relationship between language and context in a range of culturally situated settings. You'll study the central underlying patterns by which interaction operates, and examines cutting-edge research on issues such as affiliation and action adjustment. Much of this research is drawn from Conversation Analysis, and we explore and critically assess main features of its methodology and findings.

Stylistics

This module aims to equip you with the analytical skills to identify the linguistic source of stylistic effects in literary and non-literary texts and to evaluate the interpretative significance of these for readers. You will engage with a range of debates in the field as well as cutting-edge research in cognitive and corpus stylistics to investigate both literary and non-literary style. The module covers both theoretical and methodological aspects of the study of stylistics.

Critical Stylistics

This module aims to equip you with a set of analytical skills used for the identification and evaluation of the linguistic devices which encode ideologies in spoken and written texts. The module’s case studies will include the advanced study of Critical Stylistics in a range of different texts, including both spoken and written texts.

Interpersonal Pragmatics

This module is about understanding and exploring what happens to and between people when they interact (chiefly, but not exclusively, through the use of language): how they convey their ‘meanings’; how they project their views of themselves, of others present, of their relationship with those others and of what is going on; how they interpret and evaluate what other people say; how these understandings make them feel.

You will take 180 credits at Master's level, taking two core modules, one in each term, and choosing three modules from a list of options, based on staff availability and the number of students on the course:

Teaching and assessment

There are a range of activities and modes of learning and assessment available for this course, all of which provide an essential context for academic development and a satisfying learning experience. The communal nature of many of our learning strategies ensures that you feel part of a dynamic and interdependent community.

We give you the opportunity to experience a range of teaching and learning formats, including lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one discussions.

We use a range of assessment methods, including formative and summative assignments. Summative assessment methods include essays, reports of original research, short-answer tests and presentations. You will also complete a dissertation for the dissertation module. Formative assessment methods may include participation in group exercises, critical evaluation of published texts, and analysis of data.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks - unless the submission was made towards the end of the academic session, around April, in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results.

Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

All your work is moderated and subject to second marking and external examining.

Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Huddersfield is the UK's only university where 100% of the permanent teaching staff are fellows of the Higher Education Academy.*

*permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield, once they have started teaching.

Teaching excellence

Huddersfield is a TEF gold-rated institution delivering consistently outstanding teaching and learning of the highest quality found in the UK (Teaching Excellence Framework, 2017).

We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (HEA, 2017).

Here at Huddersfield, you’ll be taught by some of the best lecturers in the country. The University is number one in England for the proportion of staff with teaching qualifications (HEFCE, 2016).

For the past ten years, we’ve been the UK’s leading university for National Teaching Fellowships too, which rate Britain’s best lecturers. It’s all part of our ongoing drive for teaching excellence, which helps our students to achieve great things too.

We’re unique in the fact that all our permanent teaching staff* have, or are completing, doctorates. This expertise, together with our teaching credentials, means that students here learn from knowledgeable and well-qualified teachers and academics who are at the forefront of their subject area.

*Permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield, once they have started teaching; research degrees applies to those on contracts of more than half-time.

Facilities

Facilities

As a postgraduate student in Linguistics and Modern Languages, you'll have opportunities to work within our research centres, some of which have developed partnerships with the public, private and third sectors

Elizabeth Marsden

The close community in Linguistics is definitely one of the highlights of postgraduate study. I never thought I'd have so many wonderful friends and colleagues from such diverse backgrounds. I love that within my department we feel like a little family, and that I also know many students from the wider PGR body who I've got to know through conferences, workshops and social events like the welcome chats and PGR picnics.

Elizabeth Marsden

Linguistics PhD

The close community in Linguistics is definitely one of the highlights of postgraduate study. I never thought I'd have so many wonderful friends and colleagues from such diverse backgrounds. I love that within my department we feel like a little family, and that I also know many students from the wider PGR body who I've got to know through conferences, workshops and social events like the welcome chats and PGR picnics.

This magazine contains interesting facts and puzzles for younger school age students and you can also get involved in the production of this online publication.

Language Unlocked

We help organisations requiring assistance in enabling the subtle understanding of large bodies of text. We have worked with Intensichem Limited, Unions 21, Edexcel, The Green Party (UK) and the BBC. Language Unlocked.

Language Unlocked

Our consultancy service with a focus on raising language awareness.

We help organisations requiring assistance in enabling the subtle understanding of large bodies of text. We have worked with Intensichem Limited, Unions 21, Edexcel, The Green Party (UK) and the BBC. Language Unlocked.

Language in Conflict

We help enhance linguistics skills and understanding of local, community and family mediators and international negotiators in conflict situations, offering instructional materials and training courses. Language in Conflict.

Language in Conflict

On this project we work with professionals in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

We help enhance linguistics skills and understanding of local, community and family mediators and international negotiators in conflict situations, offering instructional materials and training courses. Language in Conflict.

WYRED

It will produce the largest forensically-relevant spoken corpus containing Northern British English accents, for use by forensic speech scientists.

WYRED

This is our most recent ESRC-funded project.

It will produce the largest forensically-relevant spoken corpus containing Northern British English accents, for use by forensic speech scientists.

Your Career

If you are an educational professional or planning on training as a teacher of English, this is an ideal course for you. It also provides a firm foundation for doctoral research into language and linguistics. It also equips you for careers in PR, marketing, management or any position using high level communication skills.

We edit and publish the popular magazine Babel which is aimed at non-specialist readers with an interest in linguistics and language-related issues. As a student you'll have the opportunity to write or review for the magazine. We also publish Lingo, a digital publication aimed at younger readers.

On graduating from this course you'll be well equipped for a range of careers, including teaching, publishing, broadcasting, writing, PR, marketing, advertising, and management.

In addition, the discipline-specific skills – in particular analysing interaction on both macro- and micro-levels – will equip you well for advanced study or careers which might include advisory jobs for multinational companies and private/public organisations which need expertise in intercultural matters.

The variety of specialist knowledge you develop will also equip you well for a career in research, policy planning or third sector or voluntary sector work.

We edit and publish the popular magazine Babel which is aimed at non-specialist readers with an interest in linguistics and language-related issues. As a student you'll have the opportunity to write or review for the magazine. We also publish Lingo, a digital publication aimed at younger readers.

Career opportunities

On graduating from this course you'll be well equipped for a range of careers, including teaching, publishing, broadcasting, writing, PR, marketing, advertising, and management.

In addition, the discipline-specific skills – in particular analysing interaction on both macro- and micro-levels – will equip you well for advanced study or careers which might include advisory jobs for multinational companies and private/public organisations which need expertise in intercultural matters.

The variety of specialist knowledge you develop will also equip you well for a career in research, policy planning or third sector or voluntary sector work.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

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Fees and Finance

In 2018/19 the full-time tuition fee for UK and EU postgraduate students on this course will be £6,500.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK/EU students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and Finance. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

If you are interested in studying with us on a part-time basis, please visit our Fees and Finance pages for part-time fee information.

If you are an international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

In 2018/19 the full-time tuition fee for UK and EU postgraduate students on this course will be £6,500.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK/EU students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and Finance. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

If you are interested in studying with us on a part-time basis, please visit our Fees and Finance pages for part-time fee information.

If you are an international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

We review all optional modules each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let students know in good time the options available for them to choose for the following year.

We will only change core modules for a course if it is necessary for us to do so, for example to maintain course accreditation. We will let you know about any such changes as soon as possible, usually before you begin the relevant academic year.

Sometimes we have to make changes to other aspects of a course or how it is delivered. We only make these changes if they are for reasons outside of our control, or where they are for our students’ benefit. Again, we will let you know about any such changes as soon as possible, usually before the relevant academic year. Our regulations set out our procedure which we will follow when we need to make any such changes.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England is the principal regulator for the University.